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20th Century Club meets

The March 21 meeting of the 20th Century Club was called to order by the president, LaQuita Wisner, with the reading of the Collect. There were 10 ladies in attendance.

Roll was called by secretary Linda Minyard and minutes were read and approved. Peggy Koen gave the treasury report. Members were reminded that annual dues should be paid at the April meeting which will be at Linda’s home. Dues are $10 per year.

The executive members planned to meet at First Baptist Church April 15 at 1:30 to choose a slate of officers for 2013-2015.

Linda Eifling reported that the May meeting would be May 28 at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Building with Christie Alexander as the speaker.

Jeanne Cheek reported that she would have sign-up sheets at the April meeting for members to sign up for meetings and subjects presentation for 2013-2014.

As there was no other business, Renee Mitchell presented a report for Barbara Russell (who was ill) on the Irish Housewives who won the Noble Peace Prize in 1976.

The years from 1921 until the 1970s was known as “The Troubles” in Ireland with constant warring, fighting and conflicts. On Aug. 10, 1976, an event took place which led to the Noble Peace Prize and eventually a settled peace agreement for Northern Ireland. On that day, a recently released political prisoner, Danny Lennon, was shot and killed as he was driving on a street in Belfast. The car careened out of control and hit four pedestrians, seriously injuring the woman and killing the children, Joanna (8), Andrew (6 weeks) and John (2).

Betty Williams witnessed this horrible scene and it triggered her into action, changing her life and her county forever. Within two days, 200 of these women, Protestant and Catholic, marched together to protest. Enroute they marched past the House of Mairead Corrigan, who was the sister of the woman whose children had been killed.

Mairead joined the march, teaming up with Betty to head a new peace initiative, which became known as the Community of Peace People, later as just the Peace People.

The next march, started at the children’s graves, brought 10,000 people to the streets. By the end of the month, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan had brought over 35,000 people into the streets of Belfast. A year later, the two women were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1998, the Good Friday Peace Agreement was signed.

After the report, the ladies enjoyed a time of fellowship and refreshments.